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Evil Russell voted out of Survivor

Across 3 seasons Russell Hantz had become a player that viewers loved to hate. Last night he left the show humilated and tearful.

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Australian Survivor fans got a long awaited-reward last night when one of the show’s most celebrated / despised / skilled contestants, “Evil” Russell Hantz, was sent packing in just the fourth episode of the season.

But it wasn’t merely that Hantz was eliminated, so much as the circumstances. The proud, defiant Hantz was reduced to tears by the revelation.

Survivor: Redemption Island was the third season for Hantz, whose skill in Survivor: Samoa and Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains saw him dominate by repeatedly finding hidden immunity idols. But his constant lying and betrayal of fellow tribe members quickly saw him become a player that viewers loved to hate. It was a badge he wore with dishonour.

Last night Hantz was blind-sided by his tribe, sent to Redemption Island where he had a final chance to fight for a chance against previously-eliminated contestant, Matt. The angry Hantz continued to vow vengeance on his tribe, determined to win the challenge and return to main game.

But in a stunning twist of fate he lost his shot at glory and unable to bear the humiliation tried to hide his tears.

For viewer who had despised his constant bleatings, it was a jaw-dropping Reality TV come-uppance.

But before he left he managed to betray his tribe one last time, passing information to his ‘rival’ tribe.

On the back of some frenzied tribe councils right from the first episode, Survivor: Redemption Island is certainly reminding us why it is still king of the Reality genre.

56 Responses

  1. I unfortunately agree with the complainers. I’ll remove TVTonight from my RSS feed because I don’t want the spoilers, and I don’t see any editorial need for them to be in the headlines of a TV News site when so many readers timeshift. This is a shame as I was enjoying your articles and updates, and the idea of having a popular place for discussions of just-broadcast TV is good.

    Keep the spoiler out of the headline and I think you have a good comprimise. The alternative headlines you provides in your responses seem perfectly fine — even with the deliberately-making-them-sound-dull factor. If there was news value in the report other than for fans of the show I might understand, but as it is Survivor fans will be interested and won’t need the spoiler in the headline, and non-fans won’t care either way (or will be disappointed to find no detailed information explaining why Russell is “evil” in the body of the article). Looking at the variety of your reporting, I don’t think this issue will affect many headlines anyway.

    The irony in this discussion is Survivor knows how much its fans hate spoilers, so runs a little animation before revealing “next week on Survivor”. Another reason I love the show!

  2. I’m so sick of people complaining about spoilers once a show has aired! David has always been clear about his posting policy about ‘spoilers’ once a show has already aired. When will people realise that timeshifting isn’t broadcasting; just because you have the technology to delay viewing doesn’t mean that David should be censored for the rest of us. Please take some responsibility for your actions, don’t go to a website about TV news and expect to have the news censored!

    As to Survivor: it’s fantastic that Russell has been voted out; I’m surprised that the other tribe didn’t immediately try to get rid of Rob. Why would either tribe allow these try-hards (as ‘experienced’ as both Rob and Russell are, neither has won) cut into their own Survivor experience and playing their own games. I just hope the rest of the season is as good as the first four episodes. And I’m still hoping for a Matt vs Rob Redemption Island showdown!

  3. Hows this for crazy – I was watching my recording of survivor, and just as Russell lost the Redemption challenge I came to this site, talk about timing!

  5. I enjoyed that group hug. When 7mate air the finale of TAR i’ll be avoiding this site like the plague for a couple of days (i figure it should be enough time before the story is off the homepage) because i’m following the show on Seven of a Sunday morning and not 7mate. But that shouldn’t mean David can’t do a story on it. Completely agree with your spoiler explanation. I don’t know how i’ll cope without this site for a few days though… it’ll be tough!

  8. It’s not a spoiler once the show has aired.

    By the logic of those who are complaining, if David were to post something about an episode of The Simpsons from 5 years ago, and Joe Bloggs came on this website and hadn’t watched that episode, that would be a spoiler.

    If the show has aired, it is your duty to think about the sites you are going to and the potential for you to see something relating to that episode. It is not David’s duty, nor anyone else’s, to hold back on commenting on something that has aired for the sake of a few people.

  9. Glad i can finally comment on this, 5 weeks after i watched the episode. Was so good watching Russell lose like that and his tears were priceless. His arrogance is nauseating and his contempt for the game made it a fitting way for him to go.

    I can understand why people would be upset with spoilers, I hate them which is why i choose not to wait for Nine to show it.

    This season in incredible. The first 3 tribal councils were the best i’ve seen and it just gets better.

  10. It was fun to watch Russell’s scheming the first two times but the third time the gloss has really worn off. He cannot be trusted. He is so arrogant he didn’t even try to change his game. It’s not like it ever worked for him. Straight off he recruited his harem. His tribe mates have seen his modus operandi before. They did the right thing. He had to go by whatever means were necessary. This article was not a spoiler. Some people like to record several episodes and watch them in one hit. David cannot be expected to take into account all of our viewing habits. If it’s been aired it’s open for discussion.

  11. Totally supportive of David’s take on the ‘spoiler’ issue and I really don’t think he needs to explain himself further for fair rules being placed on His Blog.

    Russel needs, as Jeff himself said at the end of HvsV, take time away from Survivor for a while. A long while.

    This is a totally smoking season though!

  12. Really didn’t mean to offend David. Love your site and you do a brilliant job. I just won’t be so dopey next time as to look when I haven’t watched!
    Thanks for all your hard work.

  14. I was upset that Russell left early. Although his tribe won without him, I still think it was unfair of them to throw a challenge Just to vote him out. I was really hoping for a Russell/Boston Rob showdown to be honest, but now Boston Rob owns the game – and I really hope he wins. At least with Russell there the others might have stood a chance!

  15. Something tells me that this is not the end for Russell. As demonstrated before the producers will probably try and get him for another season you will see.

  16. David I hope that, despite your valid explanations of policy, you might consider the number of people who have been upset by this. Why not something as simple as Survivor Shock as a headline. This was literally my last page surf before I sat down to watch last night’s Survivor on IQ. A headline like that would have stopped me reading. Anyone who watched the show on airing knows what happened so the headline is unnecessary for them. Those who didn’t record it can read on to find out. Please think about this David.

    1. Lee: I was actually spoiled about Russell when I read it on a US site (just as I have been for this week’s TAR). But that is the price I pay for visiting a TV news site reporting TV news for US viewers. How do they weigh up the editorial worth of writing about TV vs the individuals who are timeshifting? They swim with the tide not against, as do I. Your suggestion would mean the following headlines: “Dancing with the Stars: winner announced”; “The Block: somebody won”; “MKR: team evicted”; “Masterchef: winner declared” -and all while newspaper sites and other online media are reporting it? I also couldn’t use a photo, nor even write the front page excerpt. Might as well not write anything at all.

  17. Some of you need to ‘put your manners back in’ as Tom Cruise says.

    It is David’s site and if he wanted to ‘spoil’ before the show was even on he is well within his rights to do so, after all it is his blog, not yours.

    Don’t like? Start your own tv site.

    Without this site I would be completely lost in a sea of useless television programmers, so once again, kudos to you Mr Knox for the best telly site available.

  18. @ MattyJ. I think the next 2 episodes are fairly bland (just like Russell’s tribe bar Stephanie) compared to the first 4, but that may just be me.

  19. I really wish you wouldn’t put spoilers in your title, but I do see what you are saying David, but like many, I really don’t want to avoid your site for any period of time. Absolutely gutted that I just had that spoilt.

    But yes, I knew there was a risk when I drop in for one of my daily visits and I’m now suffering because I took the chance.

  20. David…you are still doing a fantastic job and all of your regular readers are very aware of your spoiler policy and if they are like me, find that the policy works just fine as it is, Keep up the great work and trust me, your work is both appreciated and admired.

  23. @ Jonathon S,

    I disagree that their was lack of sufficent advertising on GO! (the channel it aired on), because in realism I don’t think Nine has EVER advertised a show airing on GO!. I may be wrong, but I’ve never seen it.

    Between David Knox’s warning on this website 5 days prior (he posted an article on March 17th for a March 22nd start) and ad’s on GO! almost every ad break during the weekend, there was plenty of warning.

    Then to all the people complaining about the spoilers, David Knox posted this a few days ago:

    http://tvtonight.com.au/2011/03/hot-tip-survivor.html

    After reading this and watching the show, as a Survivor fan I was waiting for David Knox to comment his unique view on the show I love. Thank-you David for this wonderful article 🙂

  24. @ Jonathan S….. have u tryed to use your EPG on your digital tv??? and did u miss the countless promos GO! were running within the last week or that the fact it was promoted on tvtonight and other sites as well…….. do u live on mars as well????
    I think GO! is doing great job of promoting survivor!….

  25. @Jonathan S I agree! More promos on 9 and print/online media would be good. This season so far is very good and well worth watching.

    Really good ep and great to see Russell go! Well done for the tribe in getting rid of him.

    It’s gotta be up there with Kent (pink goth) u turning the redheads on TAR on Sunday’s ep,

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